Transnet’s former treasurer tells Zondo commission of poisoning fears

In her testimony, Makgatho has exposed alleged irregular and expensive transactions she opposed at the state-owned entity, involving the purchasing of 1064 locomotives. 

She concluded her testimony on Friday. 

Makgatho said after clashing with Transnet's former chief financial officer Anoj Singh over excessive price proposals by China South Rail, which was irregularly awarded the locomotive tender, she believed her life was at risk. 

"The environment was too toxic for me and I felt that I was no longer safe and I could be harmed. I worked on the assumption that all my phones were bugged and sensed as if I was being monitored, this I truly believe. Even after I had resigned, I could sense that I was being monitored," she told the commission’s chair, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo. 

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Makgatho said at some point Transnet’s former CEO, Brian Molefe, called her into a meeting where Gupta-linked fund management Regiments was also present. He invited and indicated to her that she was the only one in the room who was opposed to the loan agreement with the China Development Bank. 

She said she stuck to her guns that the agreement was not in the best interest of Transnet.

"It was so bad at Transnet that if I had opened a bottle of water and looked away I wouldn't drink the water because I was afraid I would be poisoned. I was also afraid that my car had been tampered with and chair we were fighting so much that swear words became the order of the day, they would give it to me and I would, in turn, give it to them, it was not a good environment to be in."

Makgatho also claimed there were rumours of the possible involvement of the Taiwanese mafia, saying there were two Taiwanese people who were always at Transnet. 

Asked why she did not take this further, she said she had four young children and did not want to act “as if I was Superwoman”.